Apparatus for softening and diffusing light



June 3, 1924- F. G. ROEDELL APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING AND DIFFUSING LIGHT Filed Nov. 17 1 922 immo:

FG; Hoeden,

Patented .im a, 1924.

- leletvzv UNITED. STATES PATENT oFFIca.

FREDERICK G. BOEDELL, d' DUBUQUE, IOWA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF T0 ROBERT P.

BOEDELL, OF DUBUQUE, IQWA.

APPARATS FOR BOITENING AND DIFFUSING LIGHT.

Application led November 17, 1922. Serial No. 601,508. y

To all whom it may concern:

'Be itV known that I, FREDERICK G. Ron- DELL, a citizen of the lUnited States of America., residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Apparatus for Softening and ifusing Light, of which the followmg is a s ification. A

y invention relates to improvements in automobile headlights, in the means for softening and diffusing light, and in the construction of light screens.

An object of my invention is an improved means for eliminating part of. the violet rays of a strong, artificial light and of -roducing by diffusion a soft and efficient light that has no glare, spot-light effect or other objectionable features. A further object is to construct a light screen which is particularly adapted to be used on the front of vehicle lights such as automobile head lights. A further object of my' invention is the use of a translucent material between two panes of glass, or other suitable material, this translucent material being coated with oil and crumpled in such a manner that the oil is retained on the surface of the translucent material to receive and modify the ra s of light.

Wit these and further objects in view,l

one embodiment of m invention is shown in the accompanying rawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved lens attached to a conventional automobile head light casing; l

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the lens and casing therefor; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragment of the section shown in Figure 2.

My lens may be placed in any suitable frame, and it is understood that my invention is not limited by the fact that it is disclosed in the drawings as it maf1 be used in an automobile head light. t is evident it may bel used as an art window or in lany other place where it is desired to have the light diffused in the manner it is diffused by my invention.

A frame 1 is made of two pieces of suitable material, one piece 2 having an eX- tension at one edge thereof which is bent `results in the around the part 3on the other piece constituting the frame. These two pieces may be clamped together tei-mediate the edges of the two pieces they are brought to ether or de vressed forming a groove 5. 'Ighe depressig parts may be attached as by rivet 6, pr cing a hollow frame 7 which by reason of its construction is a stron resilient frame.v The edges adj acent the c amped together parts of the frame constitute spring clamps or fingers 8. It will be evident that my screen may be efficiently and satisfactorily clamped between these two fingers.

The kscreen is constructed` of two panes or pieces of suitable glass 9 and 10, or other suitable material, between which are'placed one or more sheets of gelatin, two sheets 11 and 12 being shown which havebeen thoroughly crumpled or otherwise brought to an uneven and an irregular surface. These sheets of gelatin or of other material having similar qualities are coated with an oil such as a clear mineral oil or with a liquid having qualities similar to oil, and then placed between the glass or other plates. A thin filament and globules of oil 13 lare formed over the entire surface of the gelatin. The crumpling of the sheet formation of many vprism effects through which the light is refracte'd. The oil and gelatin are hermetically sealed by constructing the glass or other panes with shoulders 14 or by any other satisfactory means and by filling the spa-ce between the shoulders with a cementl 15. The glass or other panes forming the screen may have abead on the outer edge thereof if desired to facilitate fastening the screen to theirame.

It is evident Vthat rays of light are diffused by passing through the sheets of translucent, crumpled material. It hasbeen found by experiment that the crumpling of the oiled sheets of gelatin Segre tes a great number of globules of oil whic act as miniature lenses filtering and diffusing the light which passes through them. The eli-ect of the translucent material, oil and glass, or other suitable material is to break up the violet rays, giving the light the desired e'ect and at the same time taking as indicated at 4. In-

sov

. l away the glare and s t-lght effects lwhich.

vare ob'ectionable in 'ead other hghts. g l A My invention is ladapted to be used to produce any desired color effects by the use to protect by Letters said 'translucent medium holding on the surface thereofan oil filament and globules In a light screen, media through which th light passes comprising a transparent medium and a translucent medium, said translucent medium .consisting of a sheet ights and some of the proper colors for thematerlal formmy invention,l what Iv `prismaticl in of gelatin havin the surface thereof rendered uneven `an irre lar and having the surface' thereof coverer with oil. i

V3. In a light-screen, media 'through which the light passes comprising a transparent medium and a translucent medium, said translucent medium consisting of a crum-` pled sheet of elatin hlavin on the surface thereof gIobules .of oil filament.

4. In a light screen, media through which the light passes comprising a transparent medium and a translucent medium, said transcluent medium consisting of a sheet of gelatin having the surface thereof rendered thereof covered with oil. In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

FREDERICK G. ROEDELL;

and an oil effect and having the'surface 

